Howdy!! Its been a while since I have posted anything due mostly to the fact that I am not doing anything great and wonderful. I am currently in the Red Rocks Firefighting Academy here in Denver Co. The academy will finish up in may and then Paramedic School will start in July. I will graduate from Paramedic school in about a year and then I have no idea where I will be heading. There are so many things that I would love to do with my life, I cant wait to see where I will be in 5 years.
Over the last week I was able to visit the local YWAM bases and make some great contacts, not sure what fro but I think there will be a reason fro it soon.
James
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Home.
February 24, 2009
Dear Brothers and sisters,
I am writing to you from the kitchen in my house in Golden, Colorado. I have so much to write and I don’t know where to begin.
First I must begin with an apology. I haven’t updated this in too long and so much has taken place. I want to assure you that I have consulted the Lord on every decision that I have made, as well as many of the men and women that I trust most in my life.
I received an e-mail from my mother on Thursday the fifth of February talking about my great grandmother and her rapidly deteriorating condition. After I read the e-mail, I spent about 48 hours fasting and praying about what to do next. I was at a point with the ministry in Nepal that I could leave and the things that I had helped to start would continue. I was at a point where I felt like I wanted to come home, and I felt the Lord leading me to come home. For the first 40 hours or so, I struggled with not wanting to think that God was telling me to come home when it really was just my imagination. Then I prayed, “God, if this is not what you want, please make it so clear that I couldn’t deny it if I wanted to.” After I prayed that, it became more and more clear that God was not only okay with me coming home but He was totally behind it.
During my time of prayer and fasting, I asked God that, if I went home, would that mean that I would be done in Nepal? He answered me and said “I have a lifetime of work here ahead of you.” So, I am completely confident in the Lord’s ability to use this time of being home to further his vision in me and equip me for what is next.
About support. I know that many of you have already sent me money that was supposed to last until the end of my trip in August. I will soon be getting a printout of all the support that I received and who it was from, from St. Johns, and as soon as I do I would be more than happy to send any money back to anyone that requests me to do so. In the case that you are willing to let me keep the support that has already been sent, I plan on putting the remainder of the Missions support that I have received into an interest bearing account until I know what the next thing is that God wants me to do. I will not be using any received Missions support for anything other than just that, Missions.
While I was in Nepal, I was able to see some people that are using real skills that they acquired prior to getting into the mission field to further the kingdom of God. I was able to observe and get a taste for what it takes to be effective in ministry for God. I saw people of all different walks of life and levels of education serving the Lord in many more ways than I could have imagined. Having seen all of this and experienced so much more, I have seen a way that I will be able to serve the Lord. I have decided to pursue further education by first getting my EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification, and after that, my Paramedic License.
You have been the legs of this past mission to Nepal. You supported me financially, you prayed for me often, and you encouraged me. I am honored and humbled to have had this opportunity to serve our Lord, with your support. Please know that I am grateful for each one of you, and that I felt your prayers, and saw the difference they made in my life.
God confirmed my calling to Bhutan. God also assured me that my months of interceding for Bhutan, from the neighboring country of Nepal, was not in vain. I will continue to update this blog, because I have only begun the journey that God has for me. I have put together a small presentation about my trip, and I am available to come to your church or Bible study or home to share this with you. I am excited to see each of you, and share my stories, and answer your questions.
In truth,
James P. Lear
Dear Brothers and sisters,
I am writing to you from the kitchen in my house in Golden, Colorado. I have so much to write and I don’t know where to begin.
First I must begin with an apology. I haven’t updated this in too long and so much has taken place. I want to assure you that I have consulted the Lord on every decision that I have made, as well as many of the men and women that I trust most in my life.
I received an e-mail from my mother on Thursday the fifth of February talking about my great grandmother and her rapidly deteriorating condition. After I read the e-mail, I spent about 48 hours fasting and praying about what to do next. I was at a point with the ministry in Nepal that I could leave and the things that I had helped to start would continue. I was at a point where I felt like I wanted to come home, and I felt the Lord leading me to come home. For the first 40 hours or so, I struggled with not wanting to think that God was telling me to come home when it really was just my imagination. Then I prayed, “God, if this is not what you want, please make it so clear that I couldn’t deny it if I wanted to.” After I prayed that, it became more and more clear that God was not only okay with me coming home but He was totally behind it.
During my time of prayer and fasting, I asked God that, if I went home, would that mean that I would be done in Nepal? He answered me and said “I have a lifetime of work here ahead of you.” So, I am completely confident in the Lord’s ability to use this time of being home to further his vision in me and equip me for what is next.
About support. I know that many of you have already sent me money that was supposed to last until the end of my trip in August. I will soon be getting a printout of all the support that I received and who it was from, from St. Johns, and as soon as I do I would be more than happy to send any money back to anyone that requests me to do so. In the case that you are willing to let me keep the support that has already been sent, I plan on putting the remainder of the Missions support that I have received into an interest bearing account until I know what the next thing is that God wants me to do. I will not be using any received Missions support for anything other than just that, Missions.
While I was in Nepal, I was able to see some people that are using real skills that they acquired prior to getting into the mission field to further the kingdom of God. I was able to observe and get a taste for what it takes to be effective in ministry for God. I saw people of all different walks of life and levels of education serving the Lord in many more ways than I could have imagined. Having seen all of this and experienced so much more, I have seen a way that I will be able to serve the Lord. I have decided to pursue further education by first getting my EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification, and after that, my Paramedic License.
You have been the legs of this past mission to Nepal. You supported me financially, you prayed for me often, and you encouraged me. I am honored and humbled to have had this opportunity to serve our Lord, with your support. Please know that I am grateful for each one of you, and that I felt your prayers, and saw the difference they made in my life.
God confirmed my calling to Bhutan. God also assured me that my months of interceding for Bhutan, from the neighboring country of Nepal, was not in vain. I will continue to update this blog, because I have only begun the journey that God has for me. I have put together a small presentation about my trip, and I am available to come to your church or Bible study or home to share this with you. I am excited to see each of you, and share my stories, and answer your questions.
In truth,
James P. Lear
Monday, January 12, 2009
Two packs a day, with no signs of quitting...
January 12, 2009
In my title I am not referring to cigarettes, I am referring to banana-flavored chewing gum. It’s addictive and I am up to two packs of five sticks each per day. I’m not proud of it, I know I need help…but I just love the gum. OK, enough of that.
The team for Youth Rallies in the refugee camps is up and running. There will be seven of us: Pastor Ashok, Pastor Joel and his wife Arina, and three 17 year olds whose names I am working on pronouncing first, then I will memorize them. Our first Rally will be with all of the youth in the Golab camp about 15 km south of Birtamod. The three youngsters are new to ministry but want to catch the vision, and they make a good little worship team. The two pastors are both great speakers and there I am right in the middle. We all have a vision to bring a fire to the youth in these camps and to get things moving without us.
Saturday we are going to start with a testimony from the most outgoing of the three kids and then I will give a one to two hour message, then a testimony from Pastor Joel, an altar call and some more worship and we are done. That is a lot easier to write, than it is to pull off. The biggest obstacle, as always, is language. But I know it will be great.
The biggest problem that I can foresee with the team and the youth ministry is finances. Normally, I would just ask the members of the team to jointly cover anything that came up, but their situation is quite unique. They are not citizens of anywhere, Bhutan has rejected them and Nepal provides housing and asylum but citizenship is not a part of the deal. This may not seem like a big deal but what it means is that there are tens of thousands of refugees with no way of getting a job. The UN provides food and water and shelter, so really no income is needed. SO, I am working with a team of six people with hearts on fire for God and not a paisa (100 paisas to the rupee, each paisa about 1/700th of a dollar) to their names. The nice thing about what we are doing is that we will have almost no expenses. Food and any lodging that we need will gladly be provided by the churches that we go to, but getting to these churches requires money. I have told them that for the first few weeks I would cover the traveling expenses and that I would talk to you and see if there is any way for you to help. The best part of this problem is that the travel expenses is looking like they are going to be less than 100 dollars a month, or about 5,000-7,000 rupees (remember it’s 77 rupees to the dollar), all in bus fare. As of right now, me covering the expenses will be no problem, but I just wanted to let you know that this will be another expense that I will be taking on. We will take up an offering at the youth meetings but like I said before there just isn’t any money in the camps.
Right now I am in Damak, waiting for a bus up to Ilam, where I will teach about intercession and hearing the voice of God for three days. Then back down here to write my message and make sure the team is ready for Saturday.
There has recently been quite the outbreak of Avian flu in India, just over the border from me, so please keep that in your prayers. Pray that it stays out of Nepal. I have mostly stopped eating eggs and have totally stopped eating all chicken, which is sad ‘cause its mostly the only source of protein that I get, but I will be fine. I weighed myself at the train station about two weeks ago and I was right at 132 lbs, when I left home I weighed almost 160. I call it the ASIA DIET.
Thank you to all of you who have been supporting me every month, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that there people who think about and pray for me all the time.
Please pray:
For my health.
For my newly formed team to find our strengths and utilize them.
For my illusions of American religion: I was raised Lutheran, with 19 to 22 minute sermons, and now I am giving sermons that are sometimes topping two hours, my poor religious psyche is so confused.
For my intercessors and my supporters, they are as big a part of this as I am.
Thank you for reading and praying,
In Truth,
James P. Lear
In my title I am not referring to cigarettes, I am referring to banana-flavored chewing gum. It’s addictive and I am up to two packs of five sticks each per day. I’m not proud of it, I know I need help…but I just love the gum. OK, enough of that.
The team for Youth Rallies in the refugee camps is up and running. There will be seven of us: Pastor Ashok, Pastor Joel and his wife Arina, and three 17 year olds whose names I am working on pronouncing first, then I will memorize them. Our first Rally will be with all of the youth in the Golab camp about 15 km south of Birtamod. The three youngsters are new to ministry but want to catch the vision, and they make a good little worship team. The two pastors are both great speakers and there I am right in the middle. We all have a vision to bring a fire to the youth in these camps and to get things moving without us.
Saturday we are going to start with a testimony from the most outgoing of the three kids and then I will give a one to two hour message, then a testimony from Pastor Joel, an altar call and some more worship and we are done. That is a lot easier to write, than it is to pull off. The biggest obstacle, as always, is language. But I know it will be great.
The biggest problem that I can foresee with the team and the youth ministry is finances. Normally, I would just ask the members of the team to jointly cover anything that came up, but their situation is quite unique. They are not citizens of anywhere, Bhutan has rejected them and Nepal provides housing and asylum but citizenship is not a part of the deal. This may not seem like a big deal but what it means is that there are tens of thousands of refugees with no way of getting a job. The UN provides food and water and shelter, so really no income is needed. SO, I am working with a team of six people with hearts on fire for God and not a paisa (100 paisas to the rupee, each paisa about 1/700th of a dollar) to their names. The nice thing about what we are doing is that we will have almost no expenses. Food and any lodging that we need will gladly be provided by the churches that we go to, but getting to these churches requires money. I have told them that for the first few weeks I would cover the traveling expenses and that I would talk to you and see if there is any way for you to help. The best part of this problem is that the travel expenses is looking like they are going to be less than 100 dollars a month, or about 5,000-7,000 rupees (remember it’s 77 rupees to the dollar), all in bus fare. As of right now, me covering the expenses will be no problem, but I just wanted to let you know that this will be another expense that I will be taking on. We will take up an offering at the youth meetings but like I said before there just isn’t any money in the camps.
Right now I am in Damak, waiting for a bus up to Ilam, where I will teach about intercession and hearing the voice of God for three days. Then back down here to write my message and make sure the team is ready for Saturday.
There has recently been quite the outbreak of Avian flu in India, just over the border from me, so please keep that in your prayers. Pray that it stays out of Nepal. I have mostly stopped eating eggs and have totally stopped eating all chicken, which is sad ‘cause its mostly the only source of protein that I get, but I will be fine. I weighed myself at the train station about two weeks ago and I was right at 132 lbs, when I left home I weighed almost 160. I call it the ASIA DIET.
Thank you to all of you who have been supporting me every month, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that there people who think about and pray for me all the time.
Please pray:
For my health.
For my newly formed team to find our strengths and utilize them.
For my illusions of American religion: I was raised Lutheran, with 19 to 22 minute sermons, and now I am giving sermons that are sometimes topping two hours, my poor religious psyche is so confused.
For my intercessors and my supporters, they are as big a part of this as I am.
Thank you for reading and praying,
In Truth,
James P. Lear
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Rest and Reflections
Today is December 28th , my third day in Kashmir, India. I received confirmation from God about a week and a half ago that it was ok and good for me to take a break and do some intense resting. I am currently about 50 miles from the India-Pakistan border in the Himalayas, at about 4400 meters above sea level. I am here to rest and recharge.
Something that is really cool is I have had time to reflect on and process all of the things that I have seen in the past two and a half months. It’s hard to put it all into words but I will try. I can look back and see the places that God used me in overt ways. I can recall changes in people right before my eyes. I can also remember the times that I put everything that I could into something and saw no results.
Two stories that really demonstrate this well…First, my waiter at the Hotel Daniel, Aaryan. I didn’t ever make an effort to witness with words to him. I was always nice and ready to talk but I never tried full witnessing (sharing the Gospel), and I didn’t have to. In God’s time he came to me and asked to meet the Lord. Second, I was leading a cell group in a village in Ilam, and at the end of my message a girl, about 22 years old, came in and started to talk to my translator and motion towards me. He explained that this girl and her brother had been living in a house where two people had committed suicide and now she and her brother were having suicidal thoughts and she wanted to know if I could pray and break this spirit off of her. I said that I absolutely could, and I almost started to pray, but then I heard God saying something: “she is not Mine, you have no authority”. So I asked the girl if she was a Christian. She said no. I then tried to explain that as long as she was a Hindu and thus a child of Satan my prayers were nothing more than powerless words. It was a disappointing night to say the least. The girl left in tears and I left feeling like I had failed.
I spent almost two hours talking about nothing but God’s grace and forgiveness and acceptance with this girl and I spent no time at all talking about these things with Aaryan. God’s timing is perfect. I know that I planted a seed in that girl that night and I know that no matter how much I talk, unless I am moving in God’s time, I will see no results, but that doesn’t mean I stop praying for her. I ask that you too pray for her. I have no idea what her name was but she was young and lost and in great need of a Savior.
In the mornings when I have my quiet time I still have visions of the children in Bhutan. They are beautiful children, God’s children. I can honestly say that I love those kids. I don’t know their names or stories but I know their faces. They were created to be in relationship with their Creator and they have been denied every opportunity to do so. I also have visions and sometimes dreams of the girls that are being bought and sold in the sex trade. After I have a dream about these girls, I wake up in tears. I try and pray or intercede for them but I can't, because I can't stop crying over them. I hate the way they are treated and the things that are done to them, and I pray often that God will show me how I can make a difference in this. So far I am just allowed to pray, and so that is what I will do with all of my broken heart.
Current events: Like I said before, I am in Kashmir, India at a ski and snowboard resort named Gulmarg (say the “arg” like you’re a pirate). I left Nepal on the morning of December 22nd and arrived at Gulmarg late in the afternoon on December 25th. It took me a 50 hour train ride and three taxi rides, totaling 14 hours. It was a long trip at just over 2,300 km but well worth it.
I have been here for the past two days and I have really been able to debrief myself on the last two and a half months. In YWAM, a very critical part of the DTS (Discipleship Training School) is the debrief at the end. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work for me, being here by myself, but now I know. If I am able to take a week or so off every two or three months, I will have the time and rest required to properly review the last few months and I will be able to refocus.
This may not make much sense, so I will try and help. I have been here in Asia for almost three months. I came here with the purpose of reaching out to the country of Bhutan. I am yet to even set a foot into Bhutan. This is something that Satan uses against me, things like “you came with a reason and you have totally failed”, and “if you were a good missionary you would be in Bhutan right now”, but this isn’t how God sees what I have been doing.
In my quiet time, God has assured me that my prayers for Bhutan make a difference. So, I pray. I ask you to join with me in prayer for patience, for increased faith, and for God’s perfect timing regarding my entering the country of Bhutan. I also ask you to join me in praying for the precious children of Bhutan, for the kingdom of God to come to them.
Please also pray for Pastor Ashok and his wife, Santi. Pastor Ashok and I will be meeting to carve out a plan for my next 12 weeks of ministry in the Bhutanese refugee camps.
Thank you for all of your prayers and all of your support. I am praying for you as well. I love to hear from you, via email and notes on this blog. I will update again soon.
In Christ,
James
NOTE from Melodie, James' Mom
James is back in Nepal, as of Jan. 4. He will update again soon.
Love you all!
Something that is really cool is I have had time to reflect on and process all of the things that I have seen in the past two and a half months. It’s hard to put it all into words but I will try. I can look back and see the places that God used me in overt ways. I can recall changes in people right before my eyes. I can also remember the times that I put everything that I could into something and saw no results.
Two stories that really demonstrate this well…First, my waiter at the Hotel Daniel, Aaryan. I didn’t ever make an effort to witness with words to him. I was always nice and ready to talk but I never tried full witnessing (sharing the Gospel), and I didn’t have to. In God’s time he came to me and asked to meet the Lord. Second, I was leading a cell group in a village in Ilam, and at the end of my message a girl, about 22 years old, came in and started to talk to my translator and motion towards me. He explained that this girl and her brother had been living in a house where two people had committed suicide and now she and her brother were having suicidal thoughts and she wanted to know if I could pray and break this spirit off of her. I said that I absolutely could, and I almost started to pray, but then I heard God saying something: “she is not Mine, you have no authority”. So I asked the girl if she was a Christian. She said no. I then tried to explain that as long as she was a Hindu and thus a child of Satan my prayers were nothing more than powerless words. It was a disappointing night to say the least. The girl left in tears and I left feeling like I had failed.
I spent almost two hours talking about nothing but God’s grace and forgiveness and acceptance with this girl and I spent no time at all talking about these things with Aaryan. God’s timing is perfect. I know that I planted a seed in that girl that night and I know that no matter how much I talk, unless I am moving in God’s time, I will see no results, but that doesn’t mean I stop praying for her. I ask that you too pray for her. I have no idea what her name was but she was young and lost and in great need of a Savior.
In the mornings when I have my quiet time I still have visions of the children in Bhutan. They are beautiful children, God’s children. I can honestly say that I love those kids. I don’t know their names or stories but I know their faces. They were created to be in relationship with their Creator and they have been denied every opportunity to do so. I also have visions and sometimes dreams of the girls that are being bought and sold in the sex trade. After I have a dream about these girls, I wake up in tears. I try and pray or intercede for them but I can't, because I can't stop crying over them. I hate the way they are treated and the things that are done to them, and I pray often that God will show me how I can make a difference in this. So far I am just allowed to pray, and so that is what I will do with all of my broken heart.
Current events: Like I said before, I am in Kashmir, India at a ski and snowboard resort named Gulmarg (say the “arg” like you’re a pirate). I left Nepal on the morning of December 22nd and arrived at Gulmarg late in the afternoon on December 25th. It took me a 50 hour train ride and three taxi rides, totaling 14 hours. It was a long trip at just over 2,300 km but well worth it.
I have been here for the past two days and I have really been able to debrief myself on the last two and a half months. In YWAM, a very critical part of the DTS (Discipleship Training School) is the debrief at the end. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work for me, being here by myself, but now I know. If I am able to take a week or so off every two or three months, I will have the time and rest required to properly review the last few months and I will be able to refocus.
This may not make much sense, so I will try and help. I have been here in Asia for almost three months. I came here with the purpose of reaching out to the country of Bhutan. I am yet to even set a foot into Bhutan. This is something that Satan uses against me, things like “you came with a reason and you have totally failed”, and “if you were a good missionary you would be in Bhutan right now”, but this isn’t how God sees what I have been doing.
In my quiet time, God has assured me that my prayers for Bhutan make a difference. So, I pray. I ask you to join with me in prayer for patience, for increased faith, and for God’s perfect timing regarding my entering the country of Bhutan. I also ask you to join me in praying for the precious children of Bhutan, for the kingdom of God to come to them.
Please also pray for Pastor Ashok and his wife, Santi. Pastor Ashok and I will be meeting to carve out a plan for my next 12 weeks of ministry in the Bhutanese refugee camps.
Thank you for all of your prayers and all of your support. I am praying for you as well. I love to hear from you, via email and notes on this blog. I will update again soon.
In Christ,
James
NOTE from Melodie, James' Mom
James is back in Nepal, as of Jan. 4. He will update again soon.
Love you all!
Monday, December 15, 2008
White Knuckle Ride
December 13, 2008
Hello my dear Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to cover lots of stuff and am really wired on caffeine and adrenaline right now, but I will try to be as clear as possible.
The title of this post refers to the ride that I just had on this amazing Yamaha motorcycle. It transformed the one hour trip to the cyber cafe to a 33 minute adrenalin rush. The Pepsi that I had before the ride did not help at all.
To start with: an example of the amazing-ness of the amazing God that we serve. Last night I was planning on leaving Birtamod, where I have been stuck due to the strikes (I will talk about them in a sec) but something in me said not to go. So there I was wandering the small city aimlessly feeling very alone, slightly discouraged and totally burnt out. I decided to go back to my room and read some more of the Grisham novel I was in the middle of. As I sat there reading, but not really liking it or engaging at all, there was a knock at my door. I opened it and there stood the waiter that I had seen frequently, from the rooftop restaurant in the hotel. He asked if he could come in, and I said yes. We sat on my bed kind of awkwardly for about 2 minutes and then he said, "You know Jesus, right?" I answered, “Yes I do, why do you ask?" I have to pause here and explain that I am very careful whom I tell that I am a Christian. I do not hide it, unless told to, but I do not advertise it. So, my waiter had been watching me. I was bracing for a barrage of questions and maybe even some yelling when he said, "I need Him and I want Him in my heart." At that point I started to smile, a really big stupid grin, like a kid with a secret that he wants to tell everybody who will listen. Then, I got to tell him my secret, and pray with him and then welcome him into the family of the King. WE will be attending Church tomorrow, together as brothers in Christ. I no longer feel discouraged or alone; still slightly tired, but I will talk about that later.
I am moving from Ilam. It has been an amazing ministry to have been a part of but I am being called to the refugee camps. I talked yesterday to Pastor Ashok about starting a team in the camps that will go from camp to camp, 7 camps total, to start youth groups. I am really excited to see what God is going to do with this. I know that it will be amazing and I will be working and ministering among the Bhutanese people, and that is what I am called to do for this season. We will start putting together the team in mid January and hopefully start going to camps before February.
In my last blog I talked about wanting to give a Christmas blessing to the school in Ilam. I gave the school the money yesterday, and then I received an e-mail hours later from my agent/support coordinator/intercessor/mom saying that one of you had written a check. It’s amazing. Every time I act in faith, God moves. I love you guys.
Strikes.
The newest thorn in my side is "the strike." As some of you may know, Nepal is in the process of trying to piece together a Maoist (communist) government from scratch. This means that all of the peaceful groups that the former king supported are in need of government funding and recognition. When they don’t get the funding and recognition they block the roads. They set up blockades that limit all merchandise and travel. Today is the first day that there has not been a strike for the past 11 days. Highly inconvenient. I can hitch rides on motorcycles through most of the strikes because they just want to limit public transport and goods. This, however, takes a little research every time I want to travel because I don’t move when dangerous or potentially dangerous groups are striking. One of the most violent groups in called the YCL (Young Communist League). I don’t have time to tell you all about them, but if you picture evil boy scouts with guns, nothing to lose, and an intense sense of patriotism, you kind of get it. The good thing is that they have sworn to only terrorize their countrymen, and to leave all foreigners alone. They have no desire to be compared to the Mumbai attacks.
Tomorrow I will be leaving Nepal for three days to go to the border of Bhutan and India to encourage the border churches and do some intercession for the country. I would appreciate your continued prayer covering.
Christmas.
The team that I was planning on spending Christmas with moved their outreach location to south India, about 200 km from Mumbai. So I will not be going. There are a lot of reasons: 1) I don’t have a peace about it, which means that God ain’t in it. 2) It’s close to Mumbai and I would like to be wise-- not overly cautious (I have never been accused of that and don’t plan to be), but I think that going there for a pleasure trip right now would be against better judgment. 3) Fifty straight hours on a train is enough time for me to truly go crazy. So what will I be doing? I may just spend it here, with Ashok and his wife, Santi. I was thinking about trying to get to Kathmandu, but there is a bridge out (so no bus) and flying is too expensive. I may take same money that I have (not missions support) and take a few days to rest and try and find a place to do some snowboarding. After all, I am in the Himalayas, but I am still praying about that too.
The ministry of Ashok and Santi Rai is really being blessed. Recently, Ashok was able to lead 5 Nepali soldiers working under the UN to the Lord. After this they welcomed his church/school compound to use their water and power, which are both hard to come by in the refugee camps, and which are both being given freely. The only thing that they are asking in return is discipleship. Praise the Lord.
Please pray:
For Ashok and Santi, that their ministry continue to be blessed, and they continue to be able to spread the Gospel.
For my new brother in Christ, the waiter, and for our meetings.
For me to have a clear, defined path into Bhutan, and know when to move.
For the border churches, and my intercession for the country.
For my intercessors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all my needs (and praise for His supplying them.)
And last, pray that I get a rest and rejuvenation, however God orchestrates it (snowboarding as part of it would be nice!!)
In Truth
James P Lear
Hello my dear Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to cover lots of stuff and am really wired on caffeine and adrenaline right now, but I will try to be as clear as possible.
The title of this post refers to the ride that I just had on this amazing Yamaha motorcycle. It transformed the one hour trip to the cyber cafe to a 33 minute adrenalin rush. The Pepsi that I had before the ride did not help at all.
To start with: an example of the amazing-ness of the amazing God that we serve. Last night I was planning on leaving Birtamod, where I have been stuck due to the strikes (I will talk about them in a sec) but something in me said not to go. So there I was wandering the small city aimlessly feeling very alone, slightly discouraged and totally burnt out. I decided to go back to my room and read some more of the Grisham novel I was in the middle of. As I sat there reading, but not really liking it or engaging at all, there was a knock at my door. I opened it and there stood the waiter that I had seen frequently, from the rooftop restaurant in the hotel. He asked if he could come in, and I said yes. We sat on my bed kind of awkwardly for about 2 minutes and then he said, "You know Jesus, right?" I answered, “Yes I do, why do you ask?" I have to pause here and explain that I am very careful whom I tell that I am a Christian. I do not hide it, unless told to, but I do not advertise it. So, my waiter had been watching me. I was bracing for a barrage of questions and maybe even some yelling when he said, "I need Him and I want Him in my heart." At that point I started to smile, a really big stupid grin, like a kid with a secret that he wants to tell everybody who will listen. Then, I got to tell him my secret, and pray with him and then welcome him into the family of the King. WE will be attending Church tomorrow, together as brothers in Christ. I no longer feel discouraged or alone; still slightly tired, but I will talk about that later.
I am moving from Ilam. It has been an amazing ministry to have been a part of but I am being called to the refugee camps. I talked yesterday to Pastor Ashok about starting a team in the camps that will go from camp to camp, 7 camps total, to start youth groups. I am really excited to see what God is going to do with this. I know that it will be amazing and I will be working and ministering among the Bhutanese people, and that is what I am called to do for this season. We will start putting together the team in mid January and hopefully start going to camps before February.
In my last blog I talked about wanting to give a Christmas blessing to the school in Ilam. I gave the school the money yesterday, and then I received an e-mail hours later from my agent/support coordinator/intercessor/mom saying that one of you had written a check. It’s amazing. Every time I act in faith, God moves. I love you guys.
Strikes.
The newest thorn in my side is "the strike." As some of you may know, Nepal is in the process of trying to piece together a Maoist (communist) government from scratch. This means that all of the peaceful groups that the former king supported are in need of government funding and recognition. When they don’t get the funding and recognition they block the roads. They set up blockades that limit all merchandise and travel. Today is the first day that there has not been a strike for the past 11 days. Highly inconvenient. I can hitch rides on motorcycles through most of the strikes because they just want to limit public transport and goods. This, however, takes a little research every time I want to travel because I don’t move when dangerous or potentially dangerous groups are striking. One of the most violent groups in called the YCL (Young Communist League). I don’t have time to tell you all about them, but if you picture evil boy scouts with guns, nothing to lose, and an intense sense of patriotism, you kind of get it. The good thing is that they have sworn to only terrorize their countrymen, and to leave all foreigners alone. They have no desire to be compared to the Mumbai attacks.
Tomorrow I will be leaving Nepal for three days to go to the border of Bhutan and India to encourage the border churches and do some intercession for the country. I would appreciate your continued prayer covering.
Christmas.
The team that I was planning on spending Christmas with moved their outreach location to south India, about 200 km from Mumbai. So I will not be going. There are a lot of reasons: 1) I don’t have a peace about it, which means that God ain’t in it. 2) It’s close to Mumbai and I would like to be wise-- not overly cautious (I have never been accused of that and don’t plan to be), but I think that going there for a pleasure trip right now would be against better judgment. 3) Fifty straight hours on a train is enough time for me to truly go crazy. So what will I be doing? I may just spend it here, with Ashok and his wife, Santi. I was thinking about trying to get to Kathmandu, but there is a bridge out (so no bus) and flying is too expensive. I may take same money that I have (not missions support) and take a few days to rest and try and find a place to do some snowboarding. After all, I am in the Himalayas, but I am still praying about that too.
The ministry of Ashok and Santi Rai is really being blessed. Recently, Ashok was able to lead 5 Nepali soldiers working under the UN to the Lord. After this they welcomed his church/school compound to use their water and power, which are both hard to come by in the refugee camps, and which are both being given freely. The only thing that they are asking in return is discipleship. Praise the Lord.
Please pray:
For Ashok and Santi, that their ministry continue to be blessed, and they continue to be able to spread the Gospel.
For my new brother in Christ, the waiter, and for our meetings.
For me to have a clear, defined path into Bhutan, and know when to move.
For the border churches, and my intercession for the country.
For my intercessors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all my needs (and praise for His supplying them.)
And last, pray that I get a rest and rejuvenation, however God orchestrates it (snowboarding as part of it would be nice!!)
In Truth
James P Lear
Monday, December 1, 2008
Lots of stuff (some NOT for kids)
I wrote this a few days ago, but it's all still current. Over the past few days I have been stuck in a hotel due to the terrorist blockade here. This time was the biggest that I have seen, 13 counties or districts experiencing full traffic stop, and no selling of any goods allowed. The hotel was good though until the last day. We had power and food but on the last day the generator ran out of fuel and the stove ran out of natural gas so we had fruit to eat and candles for light.
Thank you for your prayers, this gets interesting. Read on.
Good morning, today is November 30, 2008. It is 0812 hours in the Bangalore time zone.
I wish that I could say that I was writing you with joy and happy stories, but I can't. I am writing you today with a broken heart. Know that I have been trying to write this post for the past few weeks and just never could get the words to come, but I can't wait any longer, this must be told.
PARENTS BE CAUTIONED - THIS MAY BE GRAPHIC. I URGE YOU TO READ IT FIRST BEORE LETTING YOUR KIDS.
AND KIDS PLEASE GO GET A PARENT AND HAVE THEM READ FIRST.
November 8, 2008 There was an article in the Kathmandu Times titled Where have all the Kamlari gone? Then in today’s paper there was a similar article titled Booming flesh trade goes unchecked.
In the first title the word Kamlari is used, when translated it means “young female slave.” It goes on to describe how parents who are suffering financially are promised by “middle men (often women)” that they can find a good safe home for their young daughter, and get them good compensation. These parents then sell their daughters to these “middle men” for anywhere between Rs1000 and Rs10,000. To give you some perspective, the exchange rate is 79.6 rupees to a dollar. They sell their daughters for somewhere between $12.56 and $125.63. But what usually happens is these “middle men” disappear with a busload of girls between the ages of 5-12. Nobody knows where, or nobody cares. I will tell you where they are going but first let's go back to the parents. If they demand to know what happened to their child they are ethier bribed with money or land to be quiet or just not seen anymore. So, where are all these bus loads of 5-12 year old girls going? They are being taken to Tibet, India, Bhutan and other parts of Nepal and re-sold, as sex toys, as nothing more than a playboy magazine.
The article that was in the paper today had stats in it, would you like them? The estimated number of sex workers in Nepal is 25,000, at least 5,000 are children. Now remember what standpoint this article is written from. We as Americans would see ‘children’ in this situation as 12-17; this article means that there are at least 5,000 4,5,6,7,8 year olds that are being raped 5-9 times daily in hotels all across Nepal. 35% of all “sex workers” are in the line of work by the time that they are 15. There is a small interview with a woman who works at a hotel in an unnamed city. She said she came there when she was 16 to be a housekeeper, then the owner told her that if she wanted to get paid she would spend the night with whoever he told her to. According to her she “services” 5-8 clients daily and spends almost every night with someone. She still hasn’t seen any of her money. You are not going to believe this but prostitution is illegal in Nepal, but if the cops and gov. officials get first pick of the “fresh” girls it's business as usual. According to a cop-turned-brothel owner the girls get 70% of the earnings. Well, let's you and I do the math here. Let's say 5 a day at Rs1000 each +4000 for the whole night. That Rs9000 70%=6300, If you think that these sick men are giving their 7 year old “Kamlari” Rs6300 a day I have some ocean front property in Colorado to sell you.
I wish I could say this is just a problem is Nepal or southern Asia, but it’s not. Human or sex trafficking is present in many countries in Europe, Russia, and even our own Red White and Blue.
I believe that God is calling me to work in this area. NOT THIS TRIP, but soon and maybe for the rest of my life. One man can absolutely change the world, change history, and influence millions. You want proof? George Washington, Adolf Hitler, Gandhi, Jesus. Am I saying that I have the charisma of Hitler or the faith of Jesus, no but if God wants me to, I will.
Please don’t just forget about this when you turn off your computer, fighting this starts on our knees. Satan screams when you war against his kingdom in prayer.
In other news, things in Mumbai have calmed down, and to tell you the truth I didn’t even know that anything was going on because news doesn’t move in India.
Wednesday and Tuesday of this week I was out of commission with food poisoning, but have made a full recovery and will now be more careful what I eat.
The school that I have been teaching at is only a year old, before that it was run by a hindu family who sold it to the ministry that now owns it. As with every startup they are very tight financially and I would like to give them a Christmas blessing of Rs12,000 (150.75 USD). This would pay off about %50 of their outstandiong loans and make the new year run smoothly. This is about two weeks worth of my living money so things may be tight but if anyone feels led to help with this please do. If you would like to make sure that your money goes to the school, send your check to St. John's like normal, but call my mother (720) 352 4697 and tell her that your donation of x much is to go to the school.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. For me it passed rather easily, considering that it’s an American holiday nobody even knew what I was talking about. I did miss the food though. However for my thanksgiving dinner I was able to have rice and curry, which is the same thing I have had for the past 54 days. But I love it, God is truly amazing.
Please pray:
For my road into Bhutan, I don’t know what it is but God has told me that he is going to make one.
For me to know when to move on to Bhutan.
For my Intercessors as they are my biggest warriors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all of my financial and physical needs.
May the Lord richly bless your holiday season and your new year.
In truth, James P Lear
Thank you for your prayers, this gets interesting. Read on.
Good morning, today is November 30, 2008. It is 0812 hours in the Bangalore time zone.
I wish that I could say that I was writing you with joy and happy stories, but I can't. I am writing you today with a broken heart. Know that I have been trying to write this post for the past few weeks and just never could get the words to come, but I can't wait any longer, this must be told.
PARENTS BE CAUTIONED - THIS MAY BE GRAPHIC. I URGE YOU TO READ IT FIRST BEORE LETTING YOUR KIDS.
AND KIDS PLEASE GO GET A PARENT AND HAVE THEM READ FIRST.
November 8, 2008 There was an article in the Kathmandu Times titled Where have all the Kamlari gone? Then in today’s paper there was a similar article titled Booming flesh trade goes unchecked.
In the first title the word Kamlari is used, when translated it means “young female slave.” It goes on to describe how parents who are suffering financially are promised by “middle men (often women)” that they can find a good safe home for their young daughter, and get them good compensation. These parents then sell their daughters to these “middle men” for anywhere between Rs1000 and Rs10,000. To give you some perspective, the exchange rate is 79.6 rupees to a dollar. They sell their daughters for somewhere between $12.56 and $125.63. But what usually happens is these “middle men” disappear with a busload of girls between the ages of 5-12. Nobody knows where, or nobody cares. I will tell you where they are going but first let's go back to the parents. If they demand to know what happened to their child they are ethier bribed with money or land to be quiet or just not seen anymore. So, where are all these bus loads of 5-12 year old girls going? They are being taken to Tibet, India, Bhutan and other parts of Nepal and re-sold, as sex toys, as nothing more than a playboy magazine.
The article that was in the paper today had stats in it, would you like them? The estimated number of sex workers in Nepal is 25,000, at least 5,000 are children. Now remember what standpoint this article is written from. We as Americans would see ‘children’ in this situation as 12-17; this article means that there are at least 5,000 4,5,6,7,8 year olds that are being raped 5-9 times daily in hotels all across Nepal. 35% of all “sex workers” are in the line of work by the time that they are 15. There is a small interview with a woman who works at a hotel in an unnamed city. She said she came there when she was 16 to be a housekeeper, then the owner told her that if she wanted to get paid she would spend the night with whoever he told her to. According to her she “services” 5-8 clients daily and spends almost every night with someone. She still hasn’t seen any of her money. You are not going to believe this but prostitution is illegal in Nepal, but if the cops and gov. officials get first pick of the “fresh” girls it's business as usual. According to a cop-turned-brothel owner the girls get 70% of the earnings. Well, let's you and I do the math here. Let's say 5 a day at Rs1000 each +4000 for the whole night. That Rs9000 70%=6300, If you think that these sick men are giving their 7 year old “Kamlari” Rs6300 a day I have some ocean front property in Colorado to sell you.
I wish I could say this is just a problem is Nepal or southern Asia, but it’s not. Human or sex trafficking is present in many countries in Europe, Russia, and even our own Red White and Blue.
I believe that God is calling me to work in this area. NOT THIS TRIP, but soon and maybe for the rest of my life. One man can absolutely change the world, change history, and influence millions. You want proof? George Washington, Adolf Hitler, Gandhi, Jesus. Am I saying that I have the charisma of Hitler or the faith of Jesus, no but if God wants me to, I will.
Please don’t just forget about this when you turn off your computer, fighting this starts on our knees. Satan screams when you war against his kingdom in prayer.
In other news, things in Mumbai have calmed down, and to tell you the truth I didn’t even know that anything was going on because news doesn’t move in India.
Wednesday and Tuesday of this week I was out of commission with food poisoning, but have made a full recovery and will now be more careful what I eat.
The school that I have been teaching at is only a year old, before that it was run by a hindu family who sold it to the ministry that now owns it. As with every startup they are very tight financially and I would like to give them a Christmas blessing of Rs12,000 (150.75 USD). This would pay off about %50 of their outstandiong loans and make the new year run smoothly. This is about two weeks worth of my living money so things may be tight but if anyone feels led to help with this please do. If you would like to make sure that your money goes to the school, send your check to St. John's like normal, but call my mother (720) 352 4697 and tell her that your donation of x much is to go to the school.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. For me it passed rather easily, considering that it’s an American holiday nobody even knew what I was talking about. I did miss the food though. However for my thanksgiving dinner I was able to have rice and curry, which is the same thing I have had for the past 54 days. But I love it, God is truly amazing.
Please pray:
For my road into Bhutan, I don’t know what it is but God has told me that he is going to make one.
For me to know when to move on to Bhutan.
For my Intercessors as they are my biggest warriors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all of my financial and physical needs.
May the Lord richly bless your holiday season and your new year.
In truth, James P Lear
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
SO MUCH TO SAY
About two weeks ago
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008
SO MUCH TO SAY
About two weeks ago
I had a vision of the reigning demonic power on the mountain that I live on in Ilam. It was a huge black scorpion. I asked God why I had this vision and he said it was so I could war with it, and that now is the time. SO I spent about a week in prayer about how to attack this power and finally decided that the time had come. So last Thursday myself and two other pastors were going to intercede against this power at about 4 in the afternoon. God had a different idea. At about two that day God said to me that it was time, I told him that He must be mistaken cause the other pastors were not here yet. Well God won and I went out to the place that God had showed me was this demon’s stronghold and started to pray. God told me to pray Ezekiel 21 which talks about a sword, and in verse 14 it says strike your hands together three times and on the third the sword will do double damage. So I did. And the demonic power was defeated. Talk about amazing Intercession. Here’s the coolest part. After all this God told me that I wasn’t done, so I prayed and asked what I was to do next. He said that I should send this demon to the throne room of heaven and command it to behold the glory of the Lord. So I did. And I had a vision, I saw a huge black scorpion walk up to two huge golden doors, as it entered and looked up the glory of God hit its eyes and it exploded. We really do serve an amazing God.
I met another American missionary. His name is Thomas Dulan. He has been in northern India for the past six years. He is a doctor who received all of his medical training as a US Marine.
I went to the missions hospital in northern India about a week and a half ago with a member of a local church. It was really amazing to meet another person who is here alone following the call of God. I was only able to spend a day with Dr. Thomas but I look forward to meeting him again. He invited me to come back and stay for a month next spring, to learn as much as possible in that time. I am praying about it. While I was there for the one day He was able to teach me how to give stitches and perform minor surgery. People from all over India come to him for treatment, so he uses his medical training as a way to tell them about Jesus. Over the past six years he has been able to lead over 5,000 people to the Lord. That is an amazing ministry.
Yesterday was the last day of my teaching on “Hearing the Voice of God”. I gave it to about 40 students at a one month Bible training school, held in the Beldangi refugee camp. It went really well. The students were able to take a lot away from it.
In current events here in Nepal the Bhutanese government is threatening to start a "bloody uprising" in the refugee camps if the Nepali government doesn’t stop resettling the refugees in other nations. TO give you a little background on that statement: the country of Bhutan went through an ethnic cleansing 18 years ago. They told everyone that had any Nepali or Indian blood in them that they were welcome to leave and if they didn't they would be killed. Many tried to stay in their homes, many died. Those that choose to leave were put into refugee camps that the Nepali government allowed the UN to set up on the India/Nepal border. Well, in the last 8 months or so the UN has started to "resettle" the refugees in to first world countries all over the globe, the US, Canada, Norway, Australia, and many others. Well the Bhutanese government seems to think that since these people were once their citizens they can still dictate what happens to them, and when the UN disagreed things started to heat up. So the deadline the Bhutan has given the UN and Nepal in January 1st 2009 so be praying that things cool down.
Since I am here because of your support I would like to ask your permission to do something. YWAM Idaho will have a DTS outreach in northern India starting December 3 until mid February, and I would like your permission to go spend Christmas with them. The train ticket will be about 20 dollars. If anyone has any objections to this I am totally open to them.
Please pray that God would open the door for me to get into Bhutan to help build the underground church there. The price of a 1-day entry visa is 180 dollars so if God wants me in Bhutan He is going to have to make it happen. The church there is in great need of teachers and disciples. SO please be in prayer for them.
In truth,
James P. Lear
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008
SO MUCH TO SAY
About two weeks ago
I had a vision of the reigning demonic power on the mountain that I live on in Ilam. It was a huge black scorpion. I asked God why I had this vision and he said it was so I could war with it, and that now is the time. SO I spent about a week in prayer about how to attack this power and finally decided that the time had come. So last Thursday myself and two other pastors were going to intercede against this power at about 4 in the afternoon. God had a different idea. At about two that day God said to me that it was time, I told him that He must be mistaken cause the other pastors were not here yet. Well God won and I went out to the place that God had showed me was this demon’s stronghold and started to pray. God told me to pray Ezekiel 21 which talks about a sword, and in verse 14 it says strike your hands together three times and on the third the sword will do double damage. So I did. And the demonic power was defeated. Talk about amazing Intercession. Here’s the coolest part. After all this God told me that I wasn’t done, so I prayed and asked what I was to do next. He said that I should send this demon to the throne room of heaven and command it to behold the glory of the Lord. So I did. And I had a vision, I saw a huge black scorpion walk up to two huge golden doors, as it entered and looked up the glory of God hit its eyes and it exploded. We really do serve an amazing God.
I met another American missionary. His name is Thomas Dulan. He has been in northern India for the past six years. He is a doctor who received all of his medical training as a US Marine.
I went to the missions hospital in northern India about a week and a half ago with a member of a local church. It was really amazing to meet another person who is here alone following the call of God. I was only able to spend a day with Dr. Thomas but I look forward to meeting him again. He invited me to come back and stay for a month next spring, to learn as much as possible in that time. I am praying about it. While I was there for the one day He was able to teach me how to give stitches and perform minor surgery. People from all over India come to him for treatment, so he uses his medical training as a way to tell them about Jesus. Over the past six years he has been able to lead over 5,000 people to the Lord. That is an amazing ministry.
Yesterday was the last day of my teaching on “Hearing the Voice of God”. I gave it to about 40 students at a one month Bible training school, held in the Beldangi refugee camp. It went really well. The students were able to take a lot away from it.
In current events here in Nepal the Bhutanese government is threatening to start a "bloody uprising" in the refugee camps if the Nepali government doesn’t stop resettling the refugees in other nations. TO give you a little background on that statement: the country of Bhutan went through an ethnic cleansing 18 years ago. They told everyone that had any Nepali or Indian blood in them that they were welcome to leave and if they didn't they would be killed. Many tried to stay in their homes, many died. Those that choose to leave were put into refugee camps that the Nepali government allowed the UN to set up on the India/Nepal border. Well, in the last 8 months or so the UN has started to "resettle" the refugees in to first world countries all over the globe, the US, Canada, Norway, Australia, and many others. Well the Bhutanese government seems to think that since these people were once their citizens they can still dictate what happens to them, and when the UN disagreed things started to heat up. So the deadline the Bhutan has given the UN and Nepal in January 1st 2009 so be praying that things cool down.
Since I am here because of your support I would like to ask your permission to do something. YWAM Idaho will have a DTS outreach in northern India starting December 3 until mid February, and I would like your permission to go spend Christmas with them. The train ticket will be about 20 dollars. If anyone has any objections to this I am totally open to them.
Please pray that God would open the door for me to get into Bhutan to help build the underground church there. The price of a 1-day entry visa is 180 dollars so if God wants me in Bhutan He is going to have to make it happen. The church there is in great need of teachers and disciples. SO please be in prayer for them.
In truth,
James P. Lear
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